The registration deadline is February 19. The first 100 registrants will receive a “Bridging Communities” gift bag.
Interested community members can register for event by clicking here.
The event is sponsored by partnerships with the Schuyler County Youth Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Workforce New York, Council on Alcoholism and Addiction in the Finger Lakes, Glove House, Inc. and Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler Counties.
For a complete PDF copy of this month's update, click here.
The Schuyler County Legislature has passed a resolution to raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery.
The resolution, submitted to the legislature by the office of County Attorney Steven Getman, designates January 2021 as National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month, “to acknowledge the vital role that the people of the United States have in ending human trafficking and modern slavery, culminating in the observance on February 1, 2021, of National Freedom Day.” It was passed by the county legislature at its regular monthly meeting on Monday (December 14).
Human trafficking is a crime in which force, fraud or coercion is used to compel a person to perform labor, services or commercial sex, Getman explained. It affects all populations and all economic classes, including both adults and children.
According to the resolution, human trafficking and modern slavery have been reported and investigated in each of the fifty states. It calls for “continued partnerships with Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as social service providers and nonprofit organizations to address human trafficking with a collaborative, victim-centered approach; and all other efforts to prevent, eradicate, and raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery.”
According to Getman, the recognition period for National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month is because January 1 is the anniversary of the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation and February 1, “National Freedom Day,” is the anniversary of the date on which President Lincoln sent the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which outlawed slavery, to the states for ratification. The month was first federally recognized in 2010.
Getman noted that citizens who suspect an act of human trafficking in their area, can report a tip to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. This national, toll free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country.
A copy of Schuyler County’s resolution is available below.
The new online application is designed to provide swift and secure enrollment into the program for individuals who could previously only apply through the mail or by fax.
According to the Department of State:
Participants are assigned a substitute address which they will use for receipt of all first-class, registered and certified mail. The Secretary of State will also accept service of process on behalf of ACP participants. Participants' mail will then be re-packaged and mailed to their actual or mailing addresses. This program is one facet of an overall safety plan for victims of domestic violence. The ACP program is not a witness protection plan.Using an ACP substitute address. Upon certification as an ACP participant, the participant will be provided with an ID card which will contain his/her name, unique ID number and the substitute address, which is a Post Office box in Albany, New York. The card will also indicate the expiration date for the program participant. ACP contact information is on the back of the ID card. The participant should use this substitute address in all dealings with state and local agencies, which are required by law to accept this address. Private companies such as utility providers, stores and other companies may not automatically accept the substitute address. Participants should show their ACP ID card to any of these entities when attempting to use the substitute address.
Participants in the ACP have designated the Secretary of State to accept any legal notices (process) on their behalf. The Secretary of State’s office will not reveal any identifying information to the process server. We will only verify whether the person being served is an ACP participant. A copy of any process will be mailed to the participant’s actual or mailing address via certified mail.
Any first class, registered or certified mail sent to the substitute address will be re-packaged and forwarded to the participant’s actual or mailing address. This is done on a daily basis, Monday through Friday (except holidays). Participants should expect a five to seven day delay in receiving their mail. ACP will not forward packages, periodicals and catalogs, unless clearly identifiable as pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs) or they were sent by a government agency.
For more information, click here.
Watkins Glen, NY (November 16, 2020)—A New York State Supreme Court Judge has thrown out the lawsuit filed by Democratic candidate for NYS Senate Leslie Danks Burke against the Schuyler County Board of Elections.
In court on Monday, (November 16) Justice Christopher Baker
agreed with the motion to dismiss filed by Schuyler County Attorney Steven
Getman on behalf of the Board of Elections and dismissed the case in its
entirety. According to the motion papers,
Danks Burke did not follow New York law to obtain jurisdiction over the Board.
The motion papers also stated that further proceedings, if
any, would have shown the election count was done in accordance with New York
State law and was decided on unanimous agreement of both election
commissioners: Republican Joseph Fazzary and Democrat Carolyn Elkins. Both commissioners had submitted an affidavit
to the court asking that the case be thrown out.
Danks Burke, of Ithaca, was the Democratic Party candidate
for state senate in the 58th district.
Unofficial results showed her trailing the Republican incumbent, Tom O’
Mara.
A complete copy of Schuyler County’s motion to dismiss can
be found here.
Danks Burke has approximately thirty days to attempt to appeal the dismissal to
the New York State Appellate Division of Supreme Court in Albany.
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The motion was filed by Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman on behalf of the Board of Elections. According to the court papers, Danks Burke did not follow New York law to obtain jurisdiction and the lawsuit must be dismissed.
The motion papers also state that further proceedings would allege the election count was done in accordance with New York law and was decided on unanimous agreement of both election commissioners: Republican Joseph Fazzary and Democrat Carolyn Elkins.
Danks Burke, in statements to the press, had singled out Fazzary for her complaint.
The case is currently scheduled to be heard in Schuyler County Supreme Court on Monday (November 16), with NYS Justice Christopher Baker presiding.
“Schuyler County is committed to full, fair and open elections,” Getman said. “Both our election commissioners, Republican and Democrat, work tirelessly to ensure that all proceedings are open and transparent.”
Danks Burke was the Democratic Party candidate for state senate in the 58th district. Unofficial results showed her trailing the Republican incumbent, Tom O’ Mara.
A complete copy of Schuyler County’s motion to dismiss can be found here.
Please take notice that on the
2nd day of November, 2020, the Treasurer,
County of Schuyler (the “Enforcing Officer”) of the County of Schuyler (the “Tax District”), pursuant to law
filed with the Clerk of Schuyler
County a petition of foreclosure against various parcels of real property for
unpaid taxes. Such petition pertains to the following parcels: [see exhibits
A, B and C, annexed hereto and made a part hereof]
1. Effect of Filing: All persons having or claiming to have
an interest in the real property described in such petition are hereby notified
that the filing of such petition constitutes the commencement by the Tax District
of a proceeding in the court specified in the caption above to foreclose each
of the tax liens therein described by a foreclosure proceeding in rem.
2. Nature of Proceeding: Such proceeding is brought against
the real property only and is to foreclose the tax liens described in such
petition. No personal judgment will be entered herein for such taxes or other
legal charges or any part thereof.
3. Persons Affected: This notice is directed to all persons
owning or having or claiming to have an interest in the real property described
in such petition. Such persons are hereby notified further that a duplicate of
such petition has been filed in the office of the Enforcing Officer of the Tax
District and will remain open for public inspection up to and including the
date specified below as the last day for redemption.
4. Right of Redemption: Any person having or claiming to
have an interest in any such real property and the legal right thereto may on
or before said date redeem the same by paying the amount of all such unpaid tax
liens thereon, including all interest and penalties and other legal charges
which are included in the lien against such real property, computed to and
including the date of redemption. Such payments shall be made to: Holley
Sokolowski, Treasurer, County of Schuyler, 105 Ninth St, Unit 17, Watkins Glen,
NY 14891. In the event that such taxes
are paid by a person other than the record owner of such real property, the
person so paying shall be entitled to have the tax liens affected thereby
satisfied of record.
5. Last Day for Redemption: The last day for redemption is
hereby fixed as February 26, 2021.
6. Service of Answer: Every person having any right,
title or interest in or lien upon any parcel of real property described in such
petition may serve a duly verified answer upon the attorney for the Tax
District setting forth in detail the nature and amount of his or her interest
and any defense or objection to the foreclosure. Such answer must be filed in
the office of the County Clerk and served upon the attorney for the Tax
District on or before the date above mentioned as the last day for redemption.
7. Failure to Redeem or Answer: In the event of failure to
redeem or answer by any person having the right to redeem or answer, such
person shall be forever barred and foreclosed of all his or her right, title
and interest and equity of redemption in and to the parcel described in such
petition and a judgment in foreclosure may be taken by default.